If you’ve been in online publishing spaces for long, you’ve probably noticed something: The author scams are getting bolder. And more tricky. And more frequent.
The hard part is that none of these types of messages are *always* a scam. So how do you spot a scam, protect your work, and support your circle of people?
I’ve gathered some common-sense questions you can ask about things like book club messages, marketing service opportunities, and even strangely vague emails (because, yes, those are usually a scam too). Here’s how to recognize warning signs of author scams and what to do when you’re targeted.
Contents
Before the specifics: some general cautions
A few notes before we look a little closer at some specific scenarios.
- If something arrives in your inbox or DMs uninvited, start with the assumption that it’s a scam. We’ll talk some possible exceptions, but starting from “this is probably spam” is the safest option for you.
- Don’t click on links in an unknown sender’s email. Open a separate search window and type in a new search yourself. Links can contain malware or take you to fake sites if you don’t know how to check the end destination yourself.
- Asking in social media writer groups might help your detective work—but go through the following checks on your own first. Then if you go to a group on Facebook for more backup or validation, use the group “search” option first since the answer might already be waiting.
Here are some other things worth checking when it comes to emails specifically.
Is a “business message” sent from a legitimate email address?
Even if a sender’s name sounds official, check the full sender information. Does the email match the company information—both the “from” and the “reply-to” address? Or is it just a Gmail or other generic address?
In a Gmail inbox, and similarly in other platforms, there’s a small toggle/arrow under the sender name which will drop down more details:
It’s not only gmails and AOL addresses, though those should be an immediate delete. The scammers are getting sneakier. The HarperCollins fraud alert page lists dozens of web addresses used by known scammers, including “harpercollinpublishing(.)com”—note the missing S—”harpercollins(.)net,” and “harper-collins(.)com.”
Regular readers and independent businesses don’t always need a formal business email address, sure. But if the email is a gibberish address, it’s spam. Or if the email is “jamesalexander(at)gmail” but the sender’s name says “Maggie Lynn,” that simple mismatch is 100% suspicious.
Did you reach out to the person or organization, or did they find you?
If a message is from a group, like for marketing or publishing, did you reach out to them first? Or is this a “cold pitch” you didn’t ask for?
Unless you’ve sold hundreds of thousands of books or gone massively viral (and, in that case, would you even need the service you’re being offered?), assume the message is a scam.
Do they ask for money (up front or in later messages)?
It’s flattering to be contacted, but scammers count on you being flattered … and on disarming your suspicions before they ask for your money.
Be very suspicious about terms like “fees” or “distribution costs,” especially if the message is pressuring you with deadlines.
Already targeted by a publisher or author scam?
Here are some steps you can take when you get a scam email. And, yes, I’m sorry to say it’s WHEN you get these emails, not IF.
- Mark the now-obvious messages as spam, move to Junk folder, or just ignore/delete them. (Also adding: pat self on head because this feels rude but isn’t.) 🙂
- If you’ve already handed over payment information, contact your bank or payment method immediately, since the faster you act, the better your chances of stopping the charge.
- Make a quick list of any information or passwords that may need to be changed or protected.
- If you gave out information you’re now concerned about, the US Federal Trade Commission has a good, actionable summary with contact information for where to report the scam. If you suspect an international scam, you can report these at www.econsumer.gov.
Okay! Let’s look at some more specific messages landing in people’s inboxes.
Scam tactics: The book club email
You get a warm, friendly email. Someone with X Book Club says they just finished your book and loved it. Their book club voted unanimously to feature it. They can’t wait to share it with their members!
Aww. But wait a minute…
Yes, book clubs might ask an author to come visit if they’re local, or to do a video call if you’re farther away. They might want to buy books from you (not ask you to send them without paying!), and they might want real, actual human connection.
But most right now are author scams built to get your money.
What sorts of questions will help you know if this is a real opportunity?
Does the sender know things an actual reader would know?
A real reader emailing you can tell you what resonated with them, and they usually have a legitimate question (see the next section on vague emails).
Book clubs may be different and not have so much of a gushing fan response … but also, most book clubs just pick a book.
If everything in the email is information also found in your marketing text, the message is likely an AI-generated scam run by people who send out thousands of these emails a day.
Do the messages ask for money?
Watch for suspicious wording. Are you being asked for money outright to “be featured”? Or are they using any terms like “administrative fees” or “distribution costs”?
Book club members buy books. Or they check them out from their library. They don’t expect freebies and they don’t get paid to be in the club. If the “organizer” isn’t clearly stating what they are offering you, not what they are asking from you, assume you will be asked for money at some point.
Paid book club features: And yes, there are book clubs where you can pay to have your book featured. But is this email a reply to an email you sent? Or is this cold-pitching you?
If it’s the second option, assume it’s a copycat, especially if it’s a famous club name, and assume it’s another author scam email. Go find a better opportunity where you’re in control.
What if they offer reviews if you “tip the readers”? For as little as $20 per reader, Victoria Strauss of the Writer Beware blog was invited to reimburse a mere 30 reviewers with the promise of “no bots, no generic [reviews],” so if she’d just send over her PDF, they’d get started.
Victoria’s article has a great roundup of example emails and what to watch for. And looking at Amazon since they’re the largest book retailer—their terms prohibit paid reviews. And this is Amazon as a whole, on any product, not just self-publishing access through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
Don’t risk your Amazon account by “tipping” or paying for reviews. It’s not worth it, and whether they are bots or people, they’re not real readers. Report spam, delete, bye.
What to do
If details seem like this might be a good opportunity instead of an author scam, then visit the real book club’s website or socials. (No clicking links. YOU look it up.) Does their information say anything about an author scam going around? Use their contact form or information to confirm.
If a group is truly offering you something beneficial to your business, and everything else checks out, then congrats, you’ve won the mini-lottery! This article from Writer’s Digest gives some book club etiquette (and after looking up all these scams, I also looked up “is Writer’s Digest a scam” on Scam Detector since you can’t be too careful, which also stinks).
If you have a good experience, please speak up about what a GOOD AND TRUE author benefit of this sort looks like. We all need one another!
Scam tactics: The vague message (“I can’t leave a review” or “How do I buy your book?”)
Next scenario: A stranger messages you saying they’ve read your book but they’re having trouble leaving a review. Or they ask how to buy your book. (Or on Kickstarter: “I can’t back your book.”)
Or maybe there’s a flattering-and-curiously-vague message, like, “You’re so inspiring! What’s the best thing you’ve found about being an author?”
It’s so exciting when someone loves our work or wants to connect. But does the message really say anything specific to you, the author, and what you’ve written? Or do they just say “your book” … no further details?
Are these weirdly vague emails really such a big problem?
Why a vague email can be an author scam
Vague, open-ended emails are a way to engage you, then switch and ask you for money.
Or, even more scary, vague emails may be setting you up for a long-term phishing/scamming situation because YOU are what they want. (Phishing is the attempt to get you to disclose your personal or financial information, even things like answers to security questions.)
Replying to an email may seem harmless, but in phishing scams, you may identify yourself as a target directly, or your email may be sold to other companies as verified and active. This article from the company called CanIPhish lists significant reasons for concern.
Actual readers say specific things like “I loved this scene/fact/character about Book Title.” Or they may ask if you’re ever doing a special edition book or they may have series questions… but, yes, genuine readers tend to have an actual, specific question or comment.
What to do
Get in the habit of healthy skepticism around vague emails or DMs, and always run those initial validation checks from earlier.
Exercise your common sense. If Great-aunt Bernice’s bridge partner is emailing you to ask for help, then ok, send an Amazon link. (Aunt Bernice probably gave her your home email or your phone number, though, right? See also: don’t send an affiliate link to family.)
If there’s no clear connection and it’s a generic message, report spam and delete the message. Don’t reply. If you gave out information you’re now concerned about, the CanIPhish article gives some suggestions for changing passwords and other tips (search specifics for your own country and area).
Other author scam tactics: QR codes, agents/publishers, marketing services…
All of the scams we’ve covered share the same “ego marketing” intro: you or your work get a flattering description, an invitation to more information, and then the money ask if it’s not in the first messages.
I’m seeing more people talk about QR codes, which can seem rather random, but scams involving these are called “quishing,” and they’re usually an open invitation for scammers to install malware, steal login and password information (to your bank or any number of places), or gain remote access to your machine. Don’t engage with these.
Sites like the Authors Guild and the Writer Beware blog are places where I get overwhelmed in a hurry, but searching a specific term or company on their site’s search bar, or googling “Writer Beware [your search terms]” may be helpful.
The question to keep coming back to this: What do YOU bring to this company? If they reached out to you cold with promises that feel too good, trust that instinct.
Keep conversation lines open.
Please be willing to connect with other people. It can be embarrassing to even be almost-caught by an author scam, but helping provide a safe place for other authors to share without being shamed is key for all of us.
And also, no. Please don’t pay “Stephenn King” to review your work or write your foreword.
Stay alert. Trust your gut and your community. Be safe, my friends.